Rubber bathtub



im w, 1939. 'l BERGER 2,143,674

RUBBER BATHTUB Filed Maye, 1938 j 55- E- BY i l l C ATToRNE-Y PatentedJan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES QEFIEE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a rigidplatform for collapsible rubber baby bath tubs.

Heretofore collapsible rubber baby bath tubs have been constructed fromsheet rubber and nothing has been applied to the base Wall of the tubfor reinforcing the same to prevent it from sagging under the Weight ofthe infant. When a child attempted to stand up in the tub, the tubassumes a cone shape makes it difficult to keep the childs balance andalso very often the childs foot punctured a hole in the bottom.

This invention proposes the construction of a rigid member which isadapted to be extended across the bottom of the tub and disposed in apocket formed by a flange extending continuously around the base wall ofthe tub, to permit more floor surface, hence more comfort for the child.i Still' further it is proposed to construct the 20 rigid member from aplurality of adjacent rigid strips extending parallel with the sides ofthe tub and connected together by flexible strips extending transverselyof the rigid strips.

d Still further it is proposed toprovide a means 3" for reinforcing theflexible strips to hold the rigid member in a substantially at plane orwhich is releasable for permitting the rigid member to assume a slightlyconvexed shape.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly setforth.v

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. l is an elevational View of a rubber baby bath tub constructedaccording to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a View looking in the direction of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

f Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but with the rigid strips turnedout of their operative position to permit the bottom to assume aslightly curved position.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. l but illustrating the position the tubassumes when the rigid member is removed therefrom.

Fig. 7 is avieW similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the position assumed bythe tub when, the rigid member is removed therefrom.

The rigid platform for collapsible baby bath tubs, according to thisinvention, is to be used in conjunction with a tub consisting of asubstantially rectangular frame I having sides and ends. A rubberV bathtub body II is mounted along its edges on the sides and ends of theframe I 0 and at its bottom is formed With a continuous ange I2 forminga pocket I3. The top edge portions `I ia of the rubber bath tub II aremolded around the frame I0 or securely at- 10 tached thereto in anyother manner.

A rigid member extends across the bottom of the tub body Il and has itsedges disposed into the pocket I3 and engaging the flange I2. The rigidmember consists of a plurality of adjacent 1 rigid strips I4 extendingparallel with the sides of the tub.` Flexible strips I5 extendtransversely of the rigid strips I4 and these exible strips are adaptedto connect the rigid strips together in a spaced position with relationto each other. Pins I5 extend through the rigid strips I4 and the angestrips I5 for holding the rigid strips in position upon the flangestrips.

A means is provided for reinforcing the flexible strips I5 for holdingthe rigid member in a substantially flat plane and for preventing theflexible strips from bending under the Weight of the child. This meanscomprises rigid strips I'l turnably mounted upon the flexible strips I530 by means of pins I8. The rigid strips I'I are adapted to be extendedlongitudinally as well as transversely of the rigid strips I4. Fasteningelements are mounted upon the flexible strips I5 and cooperative withthe ends of the turnably 35 mounted rigid strips I1 for holding themextended along the flexible strips for reinforcing the same. Thesefastening elements comprise hooks I9 attached to the bottom face of theflexible strips I5 and engageable beneath the ends 40 of the turnablymounted rigid strips for holding the same against turning unlesspressure is applied thereto.

When the turnably mounted rigid strips I1 are extended along the lengthsof the flexible strips I5 with their ends against the hooks I8 the rigidmember will be held in a substantially nat plane as shown in Fig. 4.Each of the turnably mounted rigid strips may be rotated through 180 asillustrated by the dot and dash lines II in Fig. 2, and the bottom wouldthen assume a curved position as illustrated by the dot and dash lines II in Fig. 4, or the full lines in Fig. 5.

Fastening elements are mounted along the 56 edges of the rigid memberand the ange I2 for holding the rigid element in position within thepocket I3. These fastening elements comprise snap fastener elements 20attached to the inner face of the flange I2 and engageable Withcomplementary fastening elements 2| attached to the edge portions of therigid strips I4 of the rigid member.

The operation of this device is as follows:-

The tub is suspended from a conventional baby bath tub frame and the tubis filled with Water. The baby is rested on the base of the tub, andwhile the turnably mounted rigid elementsy I'I are extended along thelength of the flexible members I5 the rigid member will be in asubstantially flat plane to reinforce the bottom Wall of the tub toprevent the same from sagging in the middle under the Weight of thechild. In the event it should be desirable to impart slight curve to thebase wall of the tub, this may be accomplished by moving the turnablymounted rigid strips II through 180, as illustrated by the dot and dashlines I1 in Fig. 2 as to permit the bottom Wall of the tub to becomeslightly concaved (as shown in Fig. 5) under the weight of the child.

In Figs. 6 and '7 views similar to Figs. 1 and 4 are shown in which therigid member is removed from the base Wall of the tub to illustrate thepositions assumed'by the tub under the Weight of the baby. By carefullyinspecting these figures it will be noted that the position of the babyis not at all normal and tends to destroy its cor- Yrectposture while itis lying on its back.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to al1changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

l., In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends of:said frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extendedl across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, andfastening elements mounted'along the'edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member.

2. In a device ,of the class described, a frame having sides andends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous-,flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, andfastening elements mounted along the edges of Said member and saidflange for releasably4 holding said rigid member, said rubber bath tubbody having its topgedges molded upon said frame or securely attachedthereto in any other manner.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted kalong its edges on said sidesl and ends ofsaid'frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging Vsaid -flange,andv fastening elements mounted along the edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member, said fastening elementscomprising snap fastener elements on the edge portions of said rigidmember and engageable with complementary snap fastener elements attachedto the inner face of said flange.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub bodyanddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, andfastening elements mounted along the edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member, said rigid elementcomprising a plurality of adjacent rigid strips extending parallel Withsaid sides, flexible strips extending transversely of said rigid stripsand connecting them together, a rigid strips turnably mounted on saidflexible strips to be extendable longitudinally and transverselythereof, and fastening elements mounted c-n said flexible strips andcooperative with said turnably mounted rigid strips for holding themextended along said ilexible strips for reinforcing the same.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said 3 flange, andfastening elements mounted along the edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member, said rigid elementcomprising a plurality of adjacent rigid strips extending parallel withsaid sides, flexible strips extending transversely of said rigid stripsand connecting them together, rigid strips turnably mounted on saidflexible strips to be extendable longitudinally and transverselythereof, and fastening elements mounted on said flexible strips andcooperative with said turnably mounted rigid strips for holding themextended along said flexible strips for reinforcing the same, pinsextending through said rigid strips and said flexible strips for holdingsaid rigid strips in fixed positions upon said flexible strips andspaced with relation to each other.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, andfastening elements mounted along the edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member, said rigid elementcomprising a plurality of adjacent rigid strips extending parallel Withsaid sides, flexible strips extending transversely of said rigid stripsand connecting them together, rigid strips turnably mounted on saidflexible strips to be extendable longitudinally and transverselythereof, and fastening elements mounted on said flexible strips andcooperative with said turnably mounted rigid strips for holding themextended along said flexible strips for reinforcing the same, a pinfreely passing through the center of the said turnably mounted rigidstrips and fixedly engaging said flexible strips for turnably supportingsaid latter-mentioned rigid strips.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous ange forming a pocket,a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body and disposedin said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, and fasteningelements mounted along the edges of said member and said flange forreleasably holding said rigid member, said rigid element comprising aplurality of adjacent rigid strips extending parallel with said sides,flexible strips extending transversely of said rigid strips andconnecting them together, rigid strips turnably mounted on said flexiblestrips to be eX- tendable longitudinally and transversely thereof, andfastening elements mounted on said flexible strips and cooperative withsaid turnably mounted rigid strips for holding them extended along saidflexible strips for reinforcing the same, said lattermentionedfastening. elements comprising hooks extending from said flexible stripsand engageable over the ends of said turnably mounted rigid strips forholding the same in fixed position with relation to said flexiblestrips.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame having sides and ends, arubber bath tub body mounted along its edges on said sides and ends ofsaid frame and at its bottom having a continuous flange forming apocket, a rigid member extended across the bottom of said tub body anddisposed in said pocket and having its edges engaging said flange, andfastening elements mounted along the edges of said member and saidflange for releasably holding said rigid member, said rigid elementbeing readily removable from the base Wall of said tub body when sodesired by disengaging said fastening elements.

JACOB BERGER.

